Lincoln Just Reminded Me Of The Biggest Mistake I Ever Made

[robertlane]

Lincoln Just Reminded Me Of The Biggest Mistake I Ever Made

 

Lincoln, Ford’s luxury brand, just revealed the production model of its Continental sedan at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. The car, in shimmering white, drives home Ford’s strategy for reviving the brand. And it shows that Lincoln is zigging where everyone else is zagging. Unlike the rest of the industry, which is showing off bold designs, horsepower and technology – the Continental is characterized as “an elegant, effortlessly powerful, serene full-size sedan that delivers quiet luxury to the industry’s most discerning customers.” It’s because, for the people Lincoln wants to sell cars to, the Continental was never a numbers game.

 

Executives say that in focus groups, the specs never really came up. I used to knock Lincoln for not having a rear-wheel drive options, something that BMW, Mercedes, and Cadillac consider the price of entry for the luxury market. But Lincoln is satisfied to go with all-wheel-drive, and to stick with a 3.0-liter V6 that – with turbocharging – makes a respectable 400 horsepower, and it’s betting its customers will be too.

The new Continental was also a stark reminder of the biggest mistake I ever make in covering the car business.

 

. . . .And it isn’t just a marquee car like the Continental that shamed me. Lincolns lineup of crossover and SUVs means that it has enjoyed a sales boost over the past two years, as consumers have flocked back to these vehicles amid plunging gas prices.

I’m very sorry, Lincoln. I was wrong. I wish I could take it all back.

 

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[30 OTT 6]

I just noticed that the grill pattern on the Continental is the silhouette of the Lincoln badge.

[akirby]

I just noticed that the grill pattern on the Continental is the silhouette of the Lincoln badge.

 

Yep. That was pointed out on the concept last year and they carried it over to production.

[Navi13]

Do not like the look of the big grills all automakers are using now. No style to them. Think the Lexus line has the worst front end design of them all. Do not care for the new Lincoln grill.

[bdegrand]

Do not like the look of the big grills all automakers are using now. No style to them. Think the Lexus line has the worst front end design of them all. Do not care for the new Lincoln grill.

Those Toyota/Lexus/Camry grills are horrid.Looks like a snow plow. However, I love the new Lincoln grills.

[BORG]

The new Lincoln grille looks more upscale and is certainly less polarizing. I think Lincoln's main objective is to give people fewer reasons not to consider the car and bring it closer to the identity of mainstream luxury cars. I still think Lincoln needs to find a more expressive and a more modern visual language, they seem to be a few years behind the competition that's inspiring their designs.

Edited July 1, 2016 by BORG

[fuzzymoomoo]

The new Lincoln grille looks more upscale and is certainly less polarizing. I think Lincoln's main objective is to give people fewer reasons not to consider the car and bring it closer to the identity of mainstream luxury cars. I still think Lincoln needs to find a more expressive and a more modern visual language, they seem to be a few years behind the competition that's inspiring their designs.

Looking at it strictly in this point of time, that's exactly what they need. Once this current crop of models starts moving to the next generation, I think they will start getting a little more bold with their design. I do think they are on to something with this whole "quiet luxury" look they're going with right now, as it's different from the bold and in your face looks that most of the other luxury brands are going with.